HRT: Online tickets now available for Norfolk "The Tide" light rail

October 03, 2011|By Jon Cawley, jcawley@dailypress.com | 757-247-463n

NORFOLK — Norfolk light rail riders can now purchase tickets online.

Over the weekend, Hampton Roads Transit launched a program that allows riders to buy day passes with computer or smart phone devices. The purchased tickets — $3 each — are received by email, according to HRT.

The program is intended to ease congestion at train platform ticket vending machines, especially during large events, a statement said. At this time, the online service is only available for The Tide and cannot be used for bus or ferry rides.

HRT officials originally predicted The Tide could see 2,900 riders per day; however, actual ridership has eclipsed that figure. According to data published on HRT's website, passenger figures have regularly surpassed 4,000 and topped 9,000 on Sept. 3 — the highest single day ridership since HRT began charging $1.50 per ride.

The interest in light rail has spurred the City of Norfolk to pursue plans to expand the 7.4 mile line — that runs from Fort Norfolk through downtown to Newtown Road — to serve Old Dominion University and Naval Station Norfolk. A plan to take light rail into Virginia Beach is currently stalled.

Light rail tickets may be purchased online by going to gohrt.com and clicking on the "e-Tide" link which directs customers to ticketleap.com — a website that hosts electronic ticket sales.

"It is the 21st century and we want to make sensible use of 21st century technology, said HRT CEO Philip Shucet, in the statement. "Not everyone wants to carry around cash just to buy a cardboard ticket."

Shucet said the program — if successful — could be expanded to cover other HRT services.

HRT also operates 81 bus routes that transport more than 1.3 million Hampton Roads riders each year in addition to paratransit and ferry services.